Snell & Wilcox has named Mark A. Olingy, a veteran broadcast engineer, as its new president of its U.S.-based offices. Olingy succeeds Dick Crippa, who has served as president since April 2000. The move follows the company’s efforts to help broadcasters make the transition to virtually tapeless, file-based infrastructures.

A former director of Engineering & Operations at WJLA-TV in Washington, D.C., since 1997, Olingy designed and managed the construction and systems integration there of an advanced IT-based system design that handles analog and SD/HD-SDI digital signals as files managed by a server.

Olingy also has experience as an equipment vendor, having worked in sales and business development positions for both Philips and Harris.

Simon Derry, chief executive officer of the U.K.-based Snell & Wilcox, Ltd., said that because Olingy has experience in building one of the most advanced broadcast stations in the nation, Olingy will be a great resource for customers.

Olingy will operate out of Snell’s east coast offices in Washington, D.C. and New York City. Crippa, who the company said has built a strong foundation in the American market, has been promoted to Executive Chairman of Snell & Wilcox Inc., and will work with Olingy on a daily basis.